Directional signal



Jan. 19, 1932.

R. P. CHURCHILL DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL Filed Feb. 12, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORNEY Jan. 19, 1932. R. P. CHURCHILL DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL Filed Feb. 12, 1930 2 SheetsQ-Sheet 2 w v finwwgm. m *S I V E m 0 0 & m S 1 I; ||||1||11l|| O Y. \H HI I I IHHH I I Q lw V ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 19, 1932 UNITED STATES RUEL I. CHURCHILL, OF LINCOLN, CALIFORNIA DIRECTIONAL SIGN-AL Application filed February 12, 1930. SeriaLNo. 427,891.

This invention relates to a directional signal for automobiles and the like, the general object of the invention being to provide a pivoted arm having a handle thereon wherep by the arm can be moved from a depending position to any one of three other positions,

This invention also consists in certain.

other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illus trated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying draw ings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is an elevation of the device showing the arm in its horizontal position in full lines and in its lowered operative position in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the arm and its supporting means.

Figure 3 is a section on line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section on line H of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 1. i o o In these views, the numeral 1 indicates a circular casing which is formed with a depending part 2 so that the casing can be attached to a part of the motor vehicle or the like and said casing also has a slot 3 in a part of its circumference. A hollow arm 4 has a circular casing 5 at one end which fits in the casing 1 and one end of the casing 5 carries a trunnion 6 which fits in a bearing part 7 of the casing 1 and the other end of the casing 5 carries a stub shaft 8 which passes through a bearing part 9 formed on the casing 1. A handle 10 is connected with the outer end of the shaft 8 so that the arm can be moved by moving its casing 5 in the casing 1. The arm passes through the slot 3 and when in inoperative position, will engage the lower wall of the slot which is so positioned that the arm will depend in a vertical positionrfrom the supporting member.

A spring detent 11 is carried by a boss 12 at one sideof the casing 1 and said detent is adaptedto engage any one of three recesses .13 in the circumference of the casing 5 so as to hold thearm in any one of three operative positions to which it has been moved by. thehandle. The outerend of the arm is formed with an elongated head which .is divided by the partitions 15 into three chainbers,in each of which is placed a lamp bulb 16. Three spring contacts 17 are carried by the casing 5 and each contact is connected to a lamp by aconductor 18 whichpasses through the hollow arm. A stationary contact 19 is carriedby the casing 1 and is so arranged that when the arm is moved toits first position, with the detent 11 engaging the first recess 13, said contact 19 will engage the first or lower contact 17 and thus close the circuit to the lamp 16 in thelower chamber of the head, whichindicates that the vehicle is to stop. This position of the parts is shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. When the arm is in a horizontal position, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the contact 19 will engage the middle contact 17 and thus close the circuit to the lamp in the middle chamber of the head, which indicates that the vehicle is to turn to the left and when the arm is moved to its next position where it extends upwardly from the supporting member, the contact 19 will engage the upper contact 17 andthus close the circuit to the lamp in theupper chamber, which indicates that the vehicle is to be turned to the right. It is, of course, understood that the front and rear faces of the chambers carry transparent members 20 or semi-transparent members, the lower ones of which contain the letter S. to indicate Stop, the central ones of which contain arrows pointing to the left and the upper ones of which contain arrows pointing to the right. These members can be differently colored so as to distinguish from each other and to make the signals visible from a distance.

From the foregoing it will be seen that it is simply necessary to adjust the arm by the handle 10 to the position which gives the desired signal and this can be done very easily and quickly and the arm is held in adjusted position by the detent so that the operator can remove his hand from the signal after he has set the same. Then when the turn is completed or the vehicle is to start up again,..the handle is swung upwardly to move the arm into a depending position where none of the signals will be given.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is A signal comprising a tubular arm, a signal casing at one end of the arm, illuminating means in the casing, a tubularshaped element formed on the other end of the arm and having the interior thereof in communication with the interior of the arm to permit'a circuit closing means confined in said element to be connected to said illuminating means, an integral end wall closing one end of said element, a removable end wall closing the other end of said element, a tubularsupport receiving said tubular element and having a recess .in one end and an bpening in the other end thereof, a trunnion on the removable Wall and received by the recess, and

an operating shaft extending through the opening and formed on the integral end wall for swinging the arm into different positions.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

RUEL P. CHURCHILL. 

